Remote controlled selector switch



April 22, 1958 M H REMOTE CONTROLLED SELECTOR SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Aug. 16, 1954 INVENTOR IAN DAVID SMITH v J 1&-

ATTORNEYS April 22, 1958 D SMITH 2,831,941

REMOTE CONTROLLED SELECTOR SWITCH Filed Aug. 16, 1954 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR IAN DAVID SMITH I av Jag.

ATTORNEVS April 22, 1958 l. D. SMITH 2,831,941

REMOTE CONTROLLED SELECTOR SWITCH Filed Aug. 16, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3lZa 70 INVENTOR IAN DAVID SMITH B 2&4

ATTORNEYS U ed States; Patent REMOTE CONTROLLED SELECTOR SWITCH IanDavid Smith, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Application August 16,1954, Serial No. 449,935

17 Claims. (Cl. 200-105) This invention relates toselector units whichmay be placed at different points or in different machines, all of saidunits being operated by a single control at aremote point. p

This selector unit was primarily designed for use in model railroadengines in order that'a plurality of engines may be independentlyoperated on a single track by one control unit. However, it is to beunderstood that the unit may be used with any type of machinery in orderthat any of a plurality of machines may be started and shut off by asingle control.

The control for this selector unit includes means for se-,

lectively creating different numbers of electrical impulses. A singlepair of conductors extends to a plurality of selector units, said unitsbeing connected in parallel. If the selector units are located inmodelrailroad engines, the rails on which the engines operate form partof the pair of conductors.

Each selector unit includes a carriage and means responsive to theelectric impulses for moving the carriage forwardly a predetermineddistance for each impulse. Suitable means is provided for returning thecarriage to its normal position when the impulses cease. An elongatedcarrier is mounted near and parallel to the carriage, said carrierhaving a plurality of spaced shoulders thereon. This carrier isyieldably mounted so that it may be depressed relative to the carriage.The carriage includes means for successively engaging the shoulders asit moves forwardly in response to the electric impulses. Each impulsecauses this means to engage a different shoulder.

As the carriage starts to move back to its normal position when theimpulses cease, the shoulder-engaging means thereof engages the lastshoulder with which it came into contact and depresses the carrier.

There is a carrier shoulder in each selector unit for each device to becontrolled by this apparatus. If there are three such devices andtherefore three selector units, there would be at least three of theseshoulders in each unit. There is a control switch within each selectorunit mounted adjacent one of the shoulders thereof. Assuming that thereare three shoulders, these being numbered 1. to 3, the control switch inone selector unit would be adjacent No. 1 shoulder, the switch inanother adjacent No. 2 shoulder, and the switch in the remaining unitadjacent No. 3 shoulder. If it is a model railroad and the operatingpower is sent over the same conductors as that for the selector units, ablank shoulder may be required, that is, a shoulder without a controlswitch near it. The control switch is operated when the shoulderadjacent it is engaged by the carriage means and depressed thereby. Thiscontrol switch is connected to electrical means for doing the requiredjob. For instance, if the selector units are in model engines, thecontrol switch of each engine may start, stop or reverse theelectricrnotor of the engine.

Any desired number of selector units may be set up in a single system.As previously stated, any suitable means may be provided for creatingthe electric impulses. It has been found, however, that a dial unit ofthe type used Figure l is an enlarged side elevation of one form ofselector unit,

Figure 2 is an elevation of the left end of the unit shown in Figure l,

Figure 3 is an elevation of the opposite side of the to that shown inFigure 1,

Figure, 4 is a vertical cross section taken on the line' Figures 5 to 8are fragmentary views illustrating a se-f quence of movements during theoperation of the unit,

Figure 9 illustrates one type of control switch which Figure 10 is awiring diagram of a control switch for operating a reversible motor,

Figure 11 diagrammatically illustrates a system incorporating threeselector units,

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 3 of an alternative form of theinvention, I

- Figure 13 is an elevation of the left end of the unit 0 5 Figure 12,

Figure 14 is a vertical section taken on the line 14-44 in Figure 12,

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 3 of still another form of theinvention,

Figure 16 is a fragmentary side elevation with the car riage advancedfrom its normal position and with the car rier depressed, and

Figure 17 is a vertical section taken on the line 17-17 of Figure 16. i1

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, 10 is a selector unithaving a flat frame 11 projecting upwardly from a suitable base 12. Thisframe has a horizontal slot 15 spaced a little below its upper edge 16and extending edge 16 of the frame, and by at least one pin 26 spacedbe-" low the other pins and riding in slot 15. A spring 28 extendsbetween the rearward end of the carriage and the rearward end of theframe to retain the carriagein a normal position against a stop 29adjacent this frame end.

A relatively long ratchet arm 31 is pivotally mounted at its lower end32 on the base 12 and extends upwardly past the side of carriage 22, andhas a ratchet pawl 34. pivotally mounted on its upper end, said pawlhaving a cam 35 formed thereon at its inner end. A spring 37 holds thearm in a normal position with the cam 35 of the pawl bearing against aseat 39 formed in the upper end of a vertical member 40 which is securedto and extends upwardly from frame 11, said member being spacedoutwardly from the frame by a block 41, see Figure '4. By referring toFigures 2 and 4, it will be seen that the pawl 34 is located above theupper edge of carriage 22,

while the cam 35 thereof extends laterally from the pawl so that it isin line with the member 40. This pawl is adapted to engage a pluralityof ratchet teeth 44 formed in the upper edge of the carriage.

When arm 31 is in its normal position, the cam 35 of the pawl is seatedon the step 39 at which time the free end of the pawl is lifted clear ofthe carriage. When Patented Apr. 22, 1958 unit.

the ratchet arm is moved out of its normal position, the pawl drops downand engages one of the ratchet teeth 44, said teeth being so arrangedthat when the ratchet arm is moved, the pawl moves the carriage with it,and when the ratchet arm returns to its normal position, the pawl ridesover the backs of the teeth.

Suitable means is provided for moving the ratchet arm forwardly of theselector unit frame under the influence of electric impulses. This maybe accomplished by a solenoid 47 mounted on the side of the frame 11 andhaving a movable core 48 slidably fitting thereir The outer end of thiscore is pivotally connected at 49 to the ratchet arm 31. When thesolenoid is energized, the core 48 is drawn into it thereby moving theratchet arm forwardly, and when the soleoid is dc-energized, spring 37returns the ratchet arm to its normal rearward position. Thus, when thesolenoid is energized by an electric impulse, the pawl 34 drops down andengages a tooth 44 of carriage 22 to move it forwardly a predetermineddistance. If the solenoid is subjected to a series of impulses, thecarriage will be moved forwardly a distance equal to the travel of theratchet arm for each impulse.

Suitable means is provided for preventing the carriage from returning toits normal position while the arm 31 is operating under the action ofthe electric impulses. For this purpose a plurality of spaced andaligned levers 54 are mounted on the frame 11. Each lever is mounted bymeans of a pin 55 just below the opening 18 in the frame so that theupper end of the lever overlaps said opening, as clearly shown in Figure3. Each lever has a shoulder 57 formed in its upper end by a prong 58projecting upwardly from said end at one side thereof. These shouldersface towards the forward end 17 of the frame. The lower ends of theselevers are pivotally connected to a common bar 60, one end of which isconnected by a link 61 to the plunger 62 of a dashpot 63. The flow ofair into and out of the dashpot is controlled by a plunger 64, theposition of which may be adjusted by a set screw 66 which is threadedthrough a lug 67 extending laterally from the frame 11. The opposite endof bar 60 is connected to a spring 70 which tends to draw the pistontowards the open end of the dashpot and one of the levers against a stoppin 71, at which time said levers are in their upright positions. Thelevers 54, and the portion of bar 6% connecting their lower endstogether, form a carrier generally designated by the reference number72.

There is a lever 54 and, consequently, a shoulder 57 for each selectorunit in the system. In the illustrated example, there are three of theselevers and for convenience they have been numbered 1, 2 and 3 from therearward towards the forward end of the frame 11. If the operatingcurrent for the engines flows along the same conductor as that for theselector units, an extra lever and shoulder may be required, and in thisexample the lever has been numbered 0.

A latch 74 is pivotally mounted at 75 on the rearward end of carriage 22near the bottom thereof and has a finger 76 projecting laterallytherefrom. The latch spans the carriage and has a notch 77 in its upperedge so that it may hang downwardly from the carriage. The latch isprovided with a weight 79 which tends to swing it into a verticalposition and also acts as a bearing surface since it is in line with theprongs 58 of the levers 54. A lug 81 projects upwardly from the latch onone side of the carriage and is engaged by the stop 29 when saidcarriage is in its normal at-rest position. At this time, the lug ismoved forwardly so that the latch is moved rearwardly into an inclinedplane, as clearly shown in Figure 3. A stop 83 projects downwardly fromthe carriage to prevent the latch from swinging forwardly beyond avertical plane.

A control switch 87 of any desired construction is mounted on the base12 adjacent one of the levers 54 for operation therewith. In thisexample, the switch consists of a rotor 89 having a plurality of spacedlugs 90 projecting outwardly from a side thereof and arranged around itsperiphery. The rotor is mounted on the side of frame 11 opposite that onwhich the levers are mounted. The rotor switch is of such type that whenone of the lugs is engaged and moved around the centre of the rotor apredetermined distance, the rotor automatically moves on to a newposition. Each lug represents a switch position. If the selector unit isused in a model railroad engine, the various switch positions mayalternately turn the engine motor on or off, or they may in sequencestart the engine ahead, stop it, and reverse it. in this example, thereare four lugs 90 and for convenience they have been labelled A to D.

The control switch 87 is positioned in the illustrated form of theinvention to operate with lever No. 2, in which case one of the lugs 90of the switch rotor is always aligned with the outer end of the lever bythe shoulder thereof. In Figures 3, 5 and 6, the lug A is beside thelever shoulder. For the purpose of illustration, the various positionsof the control switch are as follows:

A-stop Bahead C-stop Dreverse During operation, each electric impulsecauses carriage 22 to be moved forwardly sufiiciently to permit thelatch 74 to engage the next lever shoulder in line. If there is a No. 0lever, the first impulse has no effect in operating the equipment undercontrol, but this impulse causes the latch to engage the shoulder of No.0 lever. The next impulse causes the latch to engage the shoulder oflever No. l, the following impulse causes it to rest on the step of No.2 lever, and so on. When the ratchet arm 31 is being returned to itsnormal position by spring 37 after an impulse, spring 28 tends to returnthe carriage to its normal rearward position. However, the latch bearsagainst the shoulder 57 of a lever after an impulse so that said springhas to pivot or depress the upper end of the lever against the action ofspring 70 and dashpot 63. In other words, the upper portion of carrier72 is depressed at this time. Thus, the return movement of the carriageis relatively slow so that it cannot return to its normal positionduring a series of impulses. When the impulses cease, the carriage isdrawn rearwardly, at which time the latch depresses the carrier leverwith which it is in engagement until the former reaches substantially avertical position, after which the latch is moved clear of the levershoulder. The return of the carrier levers to their normal uprightpositions is slowed down by the dashpot, thus, the carriage is able tomove back to its normal position against stop 29.

As previously stated, the control switch 87 is so located that there isalways one of its lugs 90 aligned with the shoulder 57 of lever No. 2.Figures 5 to 8 illustrate the sequence of movement during operation ofthe switch. When the solenoid 47 receives three consecutive electricimpulses (the purpose of the first impulse merely being to get overlever No. 0), the latch 74 is moved over until it engages the shoulderof lever No. 2. In Figure 5, carriage 22 is moving forwardly and thelatch is just about to drop down on to the lever end from the prongthereof. Figure 6 shows the latch on the lever end and against shoulder57, at which time latch finger 76 engages lug A of the switch. Therearward movement of the carriage under influence of spring 28 depressesthe carrier lever and at the same time causes rotor 89 to be turnedsufficiently to force lug A on to the next switch position. This leaveslug B in the position just vacated by lug A. During this time, the latch74 swings downwardly to a vertical position where it is retained by stop83, see Figure 7. Further rearward movement of the carriage moves thelatch clear of the lever shoulder so that the lever is free to return toits normal position. As the dashpot prevents the carrier or levers fromreturning to their vertical positions too rapidly, the latch will moveoverlevers Nos. 1 and respectively without difficulty. Thus, when thesolenoid is subjected to three consecutive impulses, this particularselector unit moves its control switch into a new position.

If the solenoid is subjected to four electric impulses, latch 74 ismoved over until itcngages the shoulder of lever No. 3. This lever isdepressed in the manner described above in connection with lever No. 2,but finger 76 is clear of the control switch. As the latch passes overdepressed lever No. 2 during the return of the carriage, the fingermoves between the switch lugs without engaging any of them so that thecontrol switch is not operated at this time.

Fig. is a wiring diagram of a control switch 87 for operating areversible electric motor 95 of a miniature railroad engine. The twocircles represent opposite sides of the rotor 89, and pointers 97 and 98rotate together, the former being connected to the positive side, andthe latter to the negative side of a Wiring system. The two rails of theminiature railroad system are indicated at 100 and 101. When thepointers are at the switch position A, the motor is stopped. When theyare opposite the position B, the motor turns in one direction which isahead for the engine, and when they are at the position C, the motor isstopped. When the pointers are at the point D the motor turns in theopposite direction to reverse the engine.

If the engine motor is the type that is reversed by changing thepolarity of the current, the positions B and D of the control switchwould both be go positions.

The same applies if the apparatus is used to start and stop machinery.

Figure 11 diagrammatically illustrates the wiring for three selectorunits connected to the rails 100 and 101.

A dial 105 of the type used on automatic telephones is also connected tothe rails and is adapted to send out electric impulses over them. In theillustrated example, the number 1 on the dial is positioned to give 2impulses, while the other numbers each give one impulse more than theprevious number. This is necessary to allow for the No. 0 lever. Ifnumber 1 is dialled, the No. l levers of the three selector units aredepressed, but there will be only one control switch operated, that is,the control switch which is located adjacent a No. 1 lever. If number 2is dialled, the same thing happens excepting that the control switch atthe No. 2 lever of one selector unit will be turned- The samethingapplies when the number 3 is dialled. As the selector units are indifferent engines, the operator can control any one of the engines bydialling the number of that particular engine, said number correspondingto the number of its numbered lever having a control switch opposite it.

Figure 11 also shows a wiring set-up which may be used when theoperating current flows through rails 100 and 101 to the engines. Asource of electrical power 108 is directly connected to rail 101, and isconnected to rail 100 through dial 105 and also through a power switch109. When the dial is turned, electrical impulses are directed throughthe rails to the engines, but when switch 109 is closed by theoperation, a steady current is directed to the engines and stops onlywhen the switch is opened.

The operator selects theengine he wants to move by dialling its numberto make the selection. Then he closes switch 109 to cause the engine tomove in accordance with the selection. At this time, the carriages ofall the selector units move forward one distanceonly and the latchesthereof engage the shoulders of the No. 0 levers. These carriages do notreturn until the power switch is opened. The zero levers are depressedat this time but no control switch is operated. The zero levers arenecessary to prevent the carriage from returning to its normal positionimmediately after the first impulse, when a number is dialled to operatea particular engine.

Figures 12 to 14 illustrate an alternative form of selector unit. Asthis unit functions in practically the same manner asthe unit of Figure1, it will not need a very detailed description.

This selector unit generally designated by the numeral includes avertical frame 117 having a carriage 118 slidably mounted along theupper edge thereof. This carriage is in the form of a bar suspended fromrollers 120 which operate in a track 121 carried by the frame. Thiscarriage is formed with arack 123 along its lower edge which meshes witha pinion 124 fixedly mounted on a shaft 125 carried by the frame. Aratchet wheel 127 is also fixedly mounted on this shaft adjacent thepinion and is engaged by a pawl 128 mounted on the end of a ratchet arm130 which is pivotally mounted at 131 adjacent its opposite end on abracket'132. A solenoid 134 has a movable plunger 135 which is connectedat 136 at its outer end to the ratchet arm. A spring 137 is connected tothe end of the ratchet arm near its pivot 131 and normally draws saidend downwardly so as to keep the core 135 in its extended position. Ahelical spring 140 is fixedly mounted at its end 141 on the base of theframe, and its opposite end is connected to shaft 125. This spring tendsto turn the shaft in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 12) andthis moves the carriage to its normal rear position where it engages astop 144;

When the solenoid 134 is subjected to an electric impulse, its core 135is drawn downwardly to pivot the ratchet arm 130 in the same direction-Pawl 128 engages the ratchet wheel 127 to turn it a distance equal tothat between two of its notches. This moves the carriage 118 forwardlyon the frame.

The carriage has a latch 148 pivotally" mounted on its rearward end andextending downwardly therefrom. This latch is adapted to engage spacedand aligned levers 150 which are the same as levers 54 of the above formof the invention. These levers are also numbered 0 to 3 in order tocorrespond to the levers 54. A control switch is positioned adjacent oneof the levers l to 3 and has itslugs 156 projecting outwardly therefrom,one of which is always in line with the step of one of the levers which,in this case, is lever No. l. A common bar 159 is connected to the lowerends of these levers and extends to a link 160 of a dashpot 161." Aspring 162 tends to keep the levers in their uppermost positions. Thebar and levers form a carrier 164.

The alternative of Figures 12 to 14 operates in practically the samemanner as the previously described selector unit. When the solenoid 134is subjected to two electric impulses, carriage 118ismoved until itslatch 148 engages No. 1 lever. If another impulse immediately followsthis, the latch is .moved until it engages No. 2 lever, the dashpotpreventing spring 162 from returning the levers to their normalpositions at this time, and also preventing the spring 140 fromreturning the carriage to its normal position. In this example, if thereare two impulses, the control switch 155 is rotated, whereas if thereareone, three or four impulses, the switch remains stationary. Thus, thecontrol switch is operated in th same manner as described above. I

The alternative of Figures 15 to 17 is quite similar to the form of theinvention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the main difference being intheform of the carrier. Carriage 22a is mounted and moved in the samemanner as carriage 22. However, in this example, acarrier is substitutedfor carrier 72. The carrier 175 is in the shoulders are numbered 0, 1, 2and 3 in the same manner as the carrier levers. The carrier bar issupported by spaced vertical and parallel links 184 and 185. The bar ispivotally connected to the upper ends of these links, while the otherends of the latter are pivotally connected to the frame 11a. Link 184has an extension 186 from its lower end which is pivotally connected tobar 69a at 187. The frame 11a is formed with a stop 188 against whichthe forward end of the carrier bar abuts when the links 184 and 185 arein vertical positions to which they are drawn by spring 70a.

There is a control switch 87a for each selector unit and in theillustrated example, there is always a lug 90a of this switch alignedwith the No. 2 shoulder 180 of the carrier.

Carriage 22a has a latch 192 pivotally mounted at 193 on the rearwardend thereof. This latch is in the form of spaced elongated side members195, one on each side of the carriage, see Figure 17, having their upperends projecting above the pivot 193 so that one of these ends is engagedby stop 144a when the carriage is in its normal at-rest position. Atthis time, the latch projects downwardly and rearwardly from thecarriage, as clearly shown in Figure 15. A pin 198 extends through theside members 195 spaced upwardly from the lower ends thereof, andprojects laterally from the latch. This pin is adapted to engage the lug93a of the control switch in the same manner as the finger 76 of latch74 engages lug 90 of Figures 1 to 4. The lower ends of the side membersare preferably rounded as indicated at 199. A stop 200 is provided onthe car-riage near the latch 192 in order to hold the latter in asubstantially vertical position when the carriage is moved away fromstop 144a.

When the carriage 22a is moved forwardly by the electrical impulses inthe manner described above, the side members 195 of latch 192 span theupper edge of the carrier bar 177. Pin 198 is so located that it ridesalong the upper edge of the bar and drops into the notches therein asthe carriage progresses. After each impulse, the carriage tends to moverearwardly under the action of spring 2811, and the pin abuts against ashoulder 180 and starts to depress the carrier 175 against the action ofspring 7011. As the dashpot 63a slows this action, the carriage does notmove rearwardly very far unless the impulses stop.

If the number 2 is dialled, there are three electrical impulses asdescribed above and the carriage moves until pin 198 of its latchengages No. 2 shoulder of the carrier, as shown in dotted lines inFigure 15. At this time the lateral extension of the pin engages thecontrol switch lug 90a which is aligned with this shoulder. impulsesstop, spring 28a draws the carriage rearwardly, causing latch 192 topivot around its pin 193. This action causes the lower ends 199 of thelatch side members to engage the horizontal shoulders 173 of the carrierbar. As the latch pin is hearing against a shoulder 180, the lower endof the latch cannot move rearwardly with the carriage so that themovement of the latch around the pivot 193 causes its lower end todepress the carrier, as shown in Figure 16. The carrier is depresseduntil the pin clears the shoulder, at which time the main part of thelatch is in a substantially vertical position against stop 209. Thelatch keeps the carrier depressed until it clears the horizontalshoulders 178, after which spring 70a returns the carrier to its normalposition ready for the next operation.

When the pin 198 engages the control switch lug 9012, the latter ismoved to turn the switch to the next position thereof. This action movesanother switch lug into line with No. 2 carrier shoulder.

If the carriage is moved under the influence of two impulses, the latchpin engages No. l shoulder, but the control switch of the illustratedselector unit is not operated. If there are four impulses, the latch pinengages No. 3

shoulder and when the latch is in the position shown in,

Figure 16, its pin 19% is high enough to clear the control When theswitch lug a so that the control switch is not operated as the latchmoves rearwardly.

It is obvious that the selector unit of Figures 15 to 17 operates in thesame manner as that of Figures 1 to 4, the only difference being that inthe latter the carrier 72 consists of a plurality of levers 54 connectedtogether by the bar 60 and having shoulders 57 at the upper ends of thelevers, while in the former, carrier 175 comprises the bar 177 mountedon links 184 and 185 with the shoulders along the upper edge of the bar.Furthermore, there is no reason why the carriage and operating mechanismtherefor of Figures 12 to 14 may not be used with the carrierarrangement of Figures 15 to 17.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A remote controlled selector unit comprising a carriage, meansresponsive to electric impulses for moving the carriage forwardly from anormal position a predetermined distance for each impulse, a pluralityof spaced levers pivotally mounted adjacent the carriage, each leverhaving a shoulder thereon, resilient means normally maintaining thelevers in initial positions, said levers being despressible against theaction of the resilient means thereof, latch means on the carriage forsuccessively engaging the lever shoulders as said carriage movesforwardly, each impulse causing the latch means to engage a diiferentlever shoulder, and means for returning the carriage to its normalposition when the impulses cease, said latch means depressing the leverit is in engagment with against the resilient means thereof after eachimpulse as the carriage is moved towards the normal position thereof,the resilient means of each lever retard ing the movement of thecarriage while the latch of the latter is depressing said lever.

2. A selector unit as claimed in claim 1 including means connecting thelevers together whereby depression of one lever results in thedepression of all of them.

3. A selector unit as claimed in claim 2 including means connected tothe levers for slowing down the return thereof to their initialpositions by the resilient means.

4. A selector unit as claimed in claim 2 including a control switchadjacent one of the levers engaged by the latch means as the latterengages the shoulder of said lever, said switch being operated by thelatch means only when it depresses said lever.

5. A remote controlled selector unit comprising a carriage, meansresponsive to electric impulses for moving the carriage forwardly from anormal position a predetermined distance for each impulse, a pluralityof spaced levers pivotally mounted adjacent the carriage, each leverhaving a shoulder thereon, latch means on the carriage for successivelyengaging the lever shoulders as said carriage moves forwardly, eachimpulse causing the latch means to engage a different lever shoulder,means connected to the carriage for moving it towards the normalposition after each impulse, means for slowing down the return movementof the carriage, and a control switch adjacent one of the levers, saidlatch means engaging the switch when it engages the shoulder of thelever adjacent said switch, and said latch means depressing the lever itis in engagement with after the last impulse as the carriage is returnedto the normal position and operating the switch if this lever is the oneadjacent said switch.

6. A remote controlled selector unit comprising a frame, a carriageslidably mounted on the frame, ratchet teeth on the carriage extendinglongitudinally thereof, a ratchet arm pivotally mounted near thecarriage and having a pawl positioned to engage the ratchet teeth, meansconnected to the arm for holding it in a normal position, means engagingthe pawl when the arm is in the normal position to disengage the pawlfrom the carriage teeth, means responsive to electric impulses formoving the ratchet arm out of its normal position during each impulse,said pawl engaging one of the ratchet teeth,

when the arm is moved to move the carriage with it,

9' a means connected to the carriage for returning it to a normalposition when the pawl is out of engagement with the teeth thereof, aplurality of spaced levers pivotally mounted adjacent the carriage, eachlever having a shoulder thereon, resilient means normally retaining thelevers in initial positions, said levers being depressible against theaction of the resilient means thereof, latch means on the carriage forsuccessively engaging the lever shoulders as said carriage movesforwardly, each impulse causing the latch means to engage a differentlever shoulder, and said latch means depressing the lever it is inengagement withagainst the resilient means thereof after each impulse asthe carriage is moved towards the normal position thereof, the resilientmeans of each lever retarding the movement of the carriage while thelatch of the latter is depressing said lever. p

7. A remote controlled selector unit comprising a frame, a carriageslidably mounted on the frame, ratchet teeth on the carriage extendinglongitduinally thereof, a ratchet arm pivotally mounted near thecarriage and having a pawl positioned to engage the ratchet teeth, meansconnected to the arm for holding it in a'normal position, means engagingthe pawl when the arm is in the normal position to disengage the pawlfrom the carriage'teeth, means responsive to electric impulses formoving the ratchet arm out of its normal position during each impulse,said pawl engaging one of the ratchet teeth when the arm is moved tomove the carriage with it, means connected to the carriage for returningit to a normal position when the pawl is out of engagement with theteeth thereof, a plurality of spaced levers pivotally mounted adjacentthe carriage, each lever having a shoulder thereon, latch means on thecarriage for successively engaging the lever'shoulders as said carriagemoves forwardly, each impulse causing the latch means to engage adifferent lever shoulder, means for slowing down the return movement ofthe carriage, and a control switch adjacent one of the levers, saidlatch means engaging the switch when it engages the shouder of the leveradjacent said switch, and said latch means depressing the lever it'is inengagement with after the last impulse as the carriage is returned tothe normal position and operating the switch if this lever is the oneadjacent said switch. Y r 8. A remote controlled selector unitcomprising a frame, a carriage slidably mounted on the frame, ratchetteeth on the carriage extending longitudinally thereof, a pinion meshingwith the rack teeth, a ratchet wheel mounted for rotation with thepinion, a ratchet arm pivotally mounted near the carriage and having apawl positioned to engage the ratchet wheel, means connected to the armfor holding it in a normal position with the pawl clear of the ratchetwheel, a spring connectedto the ratchet wheel tending to rotate it andmove the carriage back to a normal position when the pawl is free of theratchet wheel, means responsive to electric impulses for moving theratchet arm out of its normal position during each impulse, said pawlengaging a tooth of the ratchet wheel when the arm is moved to rotatesaid wheel and move the carriage a predetermined distance for eachimpulse, a plurality of spaced levers pivotally mounted adjacent thecarriage,each lever havinga shoulder thereon, resilient means normallyretainingthe levers in initial positions, said levers being depressibleagainst the action of the resilient means thereof, latch meanson thecarriage for successsively engaging the lever shoulders as said carriagemoves forwardly, each impulse causing the latch means to engage adifferent lever shoulder and said latch means depressing the lever it isin engagement with against the resilient means thereof after eachimpulse as the carriage is moved towards the normal position thereof,the resilient means of each lever retarding the movement of the cariagewhile the latch of the latter is depressing said lever.

9. A remote controlled selector unit comprising a frame, a carriageslidably mounted on the frame, ratchet teeth on the carriage extendinglongitudinally thereof, a pinion meshing with the ratchet teeth, aratchet wheel mounted for rotation with the pinion, a ratchet armpivotally mounted near the carriage and having a pawl positioned toengagethe ratchet Wheel, means connected to the arm for holding it in anormal position with the pawl clear of the ratchet wheel, a springconnected to the ratchet wheel tending to rotate it and move thecarriage back to a normal position, means responsive to electricimpulses for moving the ratchet arm out of its normal positionduringeach impulse, said pawl engaging a tooth of the ratchet wheel when thearm is moved to rotate said wheel and move the carriage a predetermineddistance for each impulse, means connected to the carriage for returningit to a normal position when the pawl is free of the rachet wheel, aplurality of spaced levers pivotally mounted adjacent the carriage, eachlever having a shoulder thereon,latch means on the carriage forsuccessivelyengaging the lever shoulders as said carriage movesforwardly, each impulse causing the latch means to engage a differentlever shoulder, means for slowing down thereturn movement of thecarriage, and a control switch adjacent one of the levers, said latchmeans engaging the'switch when it engages the shoulder of the leveradjacent said switch, and said latch means depressing the lever it is inengagement with after the last impulse as the carriage is returned tothe normal position and oper-' carriage, means responsive to electricempulses for mov-' ing the carriage forwardly from a normal position apredetermined distance for each impulse, a carrier mounted near andparallel to the, carriage, said carrier being movable from and back toan initial position, resilient means connected to the carrier to movesaid carrier back to the initial position after being moved therefrom, aplurality of spaced shoulders projecting outwardly from the carrieradjacent the carriage, said shoulders being depressed when the carrieris moved away from the initial position, latch means on the carriage forsuccessively engaging the carrier shoulder as said carriage movesforwardly, each impulse causing the latch means to engage a differentshoulder, and means continuously urging the carriage towards its normalposition, said latch means when the carriage moves towards the normalposition after each impulse engaging a carrier shoulder and tending todepress said shoulder to move the carrier away from the initial positionagainst the resilient moving means thereof, said resilient moving meansretarding the movement of the carriage towards the normal position, andwhen theimpulses cease said carriage returning to the normal positionafter the latch means depresses the last shoulder engaged thereby.

11.-A selector unit as claimed in claim 10 including means connected tothe carrier for slowing down the reinitial position after being movedtherefrom, a plurality of spaced shoulders projecting outwardly from anedge of the bar near the carriage, a shoulder extending longitudinallyof the bar spaced from the other shoulders thereof, a latch pivotallymounted near one end of the carriage normally clear of the carriershoulders, a pin on the latch spaced from the opposite end thereof forsuccessively engaging the shoulders as the carriage moves forwardly,each impulse causing the latch pin to engage a different shoulder, andmeans continuously urging the carriage towards its normal position, saidlatch pin after each impulse engaging one of the spaced carriershoulders during movement of the carriage towards the normal position toswing the latch to cause said opposite end thereof to engage thelongitudinal shoulder of the carrier and depress the carrier against theaction of the resilient means, said resilient means retarding themovement of the carriage towards the normal position while the latch pinis in engagement with a carrier shoulder.

13. A selector unit as claimed 'in claim 12 including means forretarding the movement of the carrier by the resilient means.

14. A remote controlled selector unit comprising a carriage, meansresponsive to electric impulses for mov ing the carriage forwardly froma normal position a predetermined distance for each impulse, a carriermounted near and parallel to the carriage, said carrier being movablefrom and back to an initial position, resilient means connected to thecarrier to move said carrier backto the initial position after beingmoved therefrom, a plurality of spaced shoulders projecting outwardlyfrom the carrier adjacent the carriage, said shoulders being depressedwhen the carrier is moved away from the initial position, latch means onthe carriage for successively engaging the carrier shoulder as saidcarriage moves forwardly, eachimpulse causing the latch means to engagea different shoulder, means continuously urging the carriagestowards itsnormal position, said latch means when the carriage moves towards thenormal position after each impulse engaging a carrier shoulder andtending to depress said shoulder to move the carrier away from theinitial position against the resilient moving means thereof, saidresilient moving means retarding the movement of the carriage towardsthe normal position, and when the impulses cease said carriage returningto the normal position after the latch means depresses the last shoulderengaged thereby and switch means adjacent one of the shoulders, saidswitch means being engaged by the latch means when the latter engagesthe adjacent shoulder and being operated when the latch means depressessaid shoulder.

15. A remote controlled selector unit comprising a carriage, meansresponsive to electric impulses for moving the carriage forwardly from anormal position a predetermined distance for each impulse, a pluralityof' spaced and interconnected shoulders mounted near and parallel to thecarriage, resilient means normally maintaining the shoulders in aninitial position, said shoulders being depressible against the action ofthe resilient means thereof, latch means on the carriage forsuccessively engaging the shoulders as said carriage moves forwardly,each impulse causing the latch means to engage a different shoulder, andmeans continuously urging the carriage towards its normal position, saidlatch means when the carriage moves towards the normal position aftereach impulse engaging and tending to depress a shoulder to move theshoulders away from the initial position against the resilient movingmeans thereof, said resilient moving means retarding the movement of thecarriage towards the normal position, and when the impulses cease saidcarriage returning to the normal position after the latch meansdepresses the last shoulder engaged thereby.

16. A remote controlled selector unit comprising a carriage, meansresponsive to electric impulses for moving the carriage forwardly from anormal position a predetermined distance for each impulse, a pluralityof spaced and interconnected shoulders mounted near and parallel to thecarriage, resilient means normally maintaining the shoulders in aninitial position, said shoulders being de-. pressible against the actionof the resilient means thereof, latch means on the carriage forsuccessively engaging the. shoulders as said carriage moves forwardly,each impulse causing the latch means to engage a different shoulder,means continuously urging the carriage towards its normal, position,said latch means when the carriage moves towards the normal positionafter each impulse engaging and tending to depress a shoulder to movethe shoulders away from the initial position against the resilientmoving.

means thereof, said resilient moving means retarding the movement of thecarriage towards the normal position,.

and when the impulses cease said carriage returning to the normalposition after the latch means depresses the last shoulder engagedthereby, and switch means adjacent one of the shoulders, said switchmeans being engaged by the latch means when the latter engages theadjacent shoulder and being operated when the latch means depresses saidshoulder.

17. In control apparatus, a plurality of selector units; each unitcomprising a carriage, means responsive to electric impulses for movingthe carriage forwardly from a normal position a predetermined distancefor each impulse, a carrier mounted near and parallel to the carriage,said carrier being movable from and back to an initial posi-.

tion, resilient means connected to the carrier to move said carrier backto the initial position after being moved therefrom, a plurality ofspaced shoulders projecting outwardly from the carrier adjacent thecarriage, said shoulders being depressed when the carrier is moved awayfrom the initial position, there being one shoulder for each selectorunit in the apparatus, latch means on the carriage for successivelyengaging the carrier shoulder as said carriage moves forwardly, eachimpulse causing the latch means to engage a different shoulder, meanscontinuously urging the carriage towards its normal position, said latchmeans when the carriage moves towards the normal position after eachimpulse engaging a carrier shoulder and tending to depress said shoulderto move the carrier away from the initial position against the resilientmoving means thereof, said resilient moving means retarding the movementof the carriage towards the normal position, and when the impulses ceasesaid carriage returning to the normal position after the latch meansdepresses the last shoulder engaged thereby, and a control switchadjacent one of the shoulders, said latch engaging the switch when itengages the shoulder adjacent said switch; the shoulders in eachselector unit corresponding to those in the other units and the controlswitch of each unit being near a different shoulder from the shouldersof all the other units.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,130,320 Morrison Mar; 2,1915 1,215,242 Bopp Feb. 6, 1917 1,760,902Grattan June 3, 1930 1,967,158 Landis et al July 17, 1934 2,297,618Grimes et al Sept. 29, 1942 2,389,571 Willis Nov. 20, 1945 2,486,698Wright Nov. 1, 1949 2,575,198 Stickel Nov. 13, 1951 FDREIGN PATENTS108,987 Austria Feb. 25, 1928 777,968 France Dec. 15, 1934

